Documentaries That Connect – Susanta Biswas

Documentaries: A Medium for Relating

For Susanta documentaries are a medium for connecting and relating. He says it eloquently in a Facebook Post, “Documentaries connect me with the people…with the soil…and with myself…with old memories… with new relations”.

Project Muslin is a must watch if you have an interest in crafted fabrics. In centuries long past, very fine hand spun and hand woven fabrics made a name for Dhaka. Artisans had a skill that became world renowned.

A muslin roll can be very fine. It can easily passed through a small ring.

A skill that became a curse for the best of craftsmen during British rule. Fine British textiles could not compete in Dhaka muslin in price. Even in the home markets of Britain. The Raj ruthlessly destroyed the craft.

A Delight to Watch

Project Muslin is a delight to watch. The narrative is in Bengali (with English subtitles). The photography, direction, commentary and editing are excellent. It traces the history that has shaped the evolution of this legendary textile. From its early days in ancient Indus civilisation to its heydays as a major export earner for India, turning cotton into gold. It traces the setbacks, sometimes inflicted by torture. And the revival with the advent of Gandhi’s khadi. Project muslin is now set to give it another lease of life – and perhaps a more glamorous one.

The documentary then goes on to show the intricate craft and technology – the magic that synergy of artistry, technology and techniques create. This is my favorite part.

This is followed by details of government’s impressive and well conceived intervention. The presentation is too detailed and disrupts the natural flow. What is missing is effective voices of artisans and consumers. Striking a balance would have made the film more powerful. Room there for at least two documentaries, several video clips and loads of photographs.

The Khadi Collection

Project Muslin and the promotional clip are part of a larger collection on khadi. The collection includes a documentary and a clip on the Baluchori textile. Another documentary, Dare to Dream, looks at a khadi initiative in Jhargram. The project integrates a range of processes – from cotton slivers to clothing.

And Beyond

All five productions on khadi were made in west Bengal. We look forward to the day he broadens his lens – zooms out to explore khadi in a contemporary global context:

Documenting progress of khadi made from organic cotton.

Exploring the promise of solar power in the production of khadi.

Presenting khadi as the right choice for ethical fabrics and fashion.

Susanta has a vast collection of documentaries on development themes in West Bengal. Documentaries where he interacts with communities managing forests and irrigation. And explores issues of urbanisation. The rest of the world is waiting to tap into his talent.

You may also like to read

Background In January 2020, a team of four supporters of Action Village India (AVI) travelled to India. AVI is a London based NGO supporting the work of partner NGOs in India, including ASSEFA. The team included Ivan Nutbrown, a founder member and a long serving...

Covid 19: More and more of us are looking to protect ourselves when we venture outside for shopping and exercise. Face masks are now being recommended for situations where it’s hard to keep a necessary distance. At Khadi London we feel it’s important that these...

Kala cotton farmers and heritage crafts "Our trip to India, tracing our supply chain kicked off with 3 incredible days with one of our suppliers - Khamir -who are based in Bhuj. Khamir is an NGO that supports the local...